Suicide Facts:Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States, especially for young people ages 15-24. Although multiple factors contribute to suicide, at least 90 percent of all people who kill themselves have a mental disorder, a substance abuse disorder, or a combination of disorders. Oklahoma ’s death rate for suicide exceeds that of the U.S. Click here to learn more about suicide prevention efforts in Oklahoma and link to educational resources.

State Plan on Youth Suicide Prevention:The Oklahoma State Plan on Youth Suicide Prevention was developed at the request of the Oklahoma Legislature. House Joint Resolution No. 1018, passed in 1999, created the Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force with the assignment of submitting recommendations to the Legislature on the prevention of youth suicide. This task force involved physicians, educators, survivors, mental health professionals, clergy, legislators and representatives from state agencies including Health, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Education, and Juvenile Affairs.

Youth Suicide Prevention Council:In 2001, the Oklahoma Legislature passed the Youth Suicide Prevention Act (House Bill 1241), which established the Youth Suicide Prevention Council and designated the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as the lead agency for youth suicide prevention.The Youth Suicide Prevention Council members are legislatively appointed, and meetings are open to the public. The Council meets:

The Last Thursday of Every Month
Youth Services for Oklahoma County
201 NE 50th St., Oklahoma City
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

MediaIn a perfect world, the media’s role of reporting the truth and its job of serving the public good would not conflict. In the real world, however, these two roles can clash—and one of the areas in which this clash occurs is the media’s reporting on suicide. The suicide of an “ordinary” person can become news in his or her own community, and the suicide of a prominent person or celebrity can become national, and even international, news.

Unfortunately, the very service of reporting a suicide can encourage some people to attempt suicide themselves. While these suicides are not caused by media attention itself, there is a danger that people who are depressed or who perceive their personal problems as insurmountable may find in these reports a model of resolving their problems.

Fortunately, reporting on suicide can be accomplished in ways that serve both the truth and the public health. There are steps the media can take to minimize the possibility that its coverage of suicide will contribute to additional suicides. There are also steps the media can take to proactively contribute to preventing suicide. (Suicide Prevention Resource Center—SPRC)